Student in YouTube arrest likely to sue
Last Updated: Wednesday, November 4, 2009 | 7:07 PM ET
CBC News
A University of Western Ontario student whose violent arrest last month was captured on YouTube will likely take legal action, says his lawyer.
London police and University of Western Ontario campus officers repeatedly struck Irnes Zeljkovic in October while trying to arrest him. (Dreddly/YouTube/Canadian Press) Irnes Zeljkovic, 22, was arrested Oct. 14 at the university's social sciences building. Cellphone video footage posted on YouTube shows what appears to be five uniformed officers pounding Zeljkovic with knees and fists while shouting "Stop resisting!"
London police and university security officials have said that level of force was necessary to subdue the fourth-year student, who they say was belligerent and unco-operative.
Zeljkovic was charged with mischief under $5,000, assaulting a peace officer, resisting arrest and escaping lawful custody.
His lawyer Phil Millar said Wednesday his client will probably sue the university, London police and campus police over the arrest. Zeljkovic is now in a psychiatric hospital, where he doesn't appear to be faring well, said Millar.
Thought he was somebody else
Elgin Austen, director of campus police, said his officers were initially called after a delusional student, believing himself to be a professor, barged into an eighth-floor office and tried to evict its occupant.
"He thought he was somebody else. He didn't recognize his position or where he was — he thought he was a professor at Western and he named a professor," Austen said in an interview.
The student's father, Merzuk Zeljkovic, said his son has no recollection of the arrest.
Meanwhile, the university announced Wednesday it has hired former OPP commissioner Gwen Boniface to conduct an independent review of the arrest. University officials say they want the independent review to look at whether the situation was preventable, if current security procedures are effective and if campus police are adequately trained and equipped.
Zeljkovic is due in court Nov. 19.
